FLORHAM PARK N.J. — An overview of what's happening around FLORHAM PARK New York Jets:
1. Bulked-up QB:Focus on your team and yourself Zach WilsonThe offseason was won.
When he wasn’t throwing to his receivers “Zach Across America Tour,”Second-year quarterback Wilson was working on his physique. Wilson, who is 6-foot-2 and 214 pounds, will never be confused. Josh Allen(6-foot-5) Justin Herbert(6-foot-6), so his goal was to gain weight — shock absorber for weekly pounding.
Mission accomplished.
Robert Saleh, the coach, said that he looks “beautiful” in a positive way.
Wilson stated that he was determined to do it the “right” way and eat a healthy diet. According to his family, he is meticulous about what he consumes. In the past, he tried to gain weight and reached 218 pounds. However, he didn't feel at ease from an athletic standpoint. To maintain his agility and quick throwing motion, he decided to take it slow and steady this time. Although he didn't reveal his weight, it is obvious to all those around him.
Linebacker: “It seems like he has put on some weight.” C.J. Mosley said, smiling. He's been in the weight-room. Perhaps he went to Miami and got the job. [players who train there] got him right. I don't know if the BYU students were lifting such heavy weights. That's what makes the difference between Years 1 and 2. As you age, your body begins to change and you learn the dos and don'ts. This is part of being a professional and growing up.
Wilson is showing that he is determined to improve upon a disappointing rookie season. Wilson is doing the right things and getting praises for his mature approach. But that's only what a player can do. He has to do a better job than last year.
Wilson will eventually be the one to blame for this. He can begin with the small things, literally. On pass attempts between 1 to 10 yards, he completed a league-low 62% — 10% below the NFL average, per ESPN Stats & Information research. He will improve the offense if he is able to reach an average of about two completions per games.
2. Quirky schedule:The Jets schedule is in a word bizarre. To start the season, four AFC North teams will be taking on the Jets. This is a lot Rust Belt.
The opponent for Week 1 is the Baltimore RavensThe AFC East will also be negotiating the same deal. According to Elias Sports Bureau, the Ravens and Jets will open their season against the AFC East for the fourth time since 2004.
Other interesting tidbits:
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The Jets have eight less rest days than their rivals, which is tied for fourth-worst differential.
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The Jets must travel 7,500 more miles than their competitors, which is the second-worst differential.
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Based on their opponents' 2021 winning percent (.407), they have the fourth easiest finishing stretch (December–January).
3. Man of intrigueEach draft class has a mysterious man. The Jets have a fourth-round defensive player. Michael Clemons (Texas A&M), a tantalizing mix of promise and concern.
He performed well on the field, ranking 13th out of 470 qualified pass rushers in pressure percentage at the FBS Level. However, he has to deal with injury (24), age and other questions. Last August, he was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon. This resulted in a one-game suspension. According to Texas court records he has also been cited with traffic violations on at most five occasions between 2018 and 2021.
You might think he wires differently than others on the field. Clemons was called “one of the most nastiest” draft players by Joe Douglas, with Saleh saying, “When he puts on a helmet, he goes into a very dark place.” The Jets will be content if that place happens be to be in the opposition's backfield.
4. The pricey D:It won't be because of the fact that the front office didn't invest money in the defense this year. The defense has received $111.6 million in cap dollars from the Jets, second only to that of the Pittsburgh Steelers($130.8 million), according To Over the Cap. One player (linebacker), might be considered the only one they pay for. C.J. Mosley) has a Pro Bowl on his résumé.
5. Big concern:The Jets ranked 29th against the running, but they haven’t replaced run-stuffing defensive gear Folorunso Fatukasi (Jacksonville Jaguars). Two reasons I bring this up are:
They will open the season against Ravens, who have a dangerous quarterback Lamar JacksonIt is also one of the most prolific rushing attacks in the league. This could create a problem. This is why the Jets are interested in free-agent defensive tackle Larry OgunjobiWho could be added to the line-up immediately? Quinnen Williams.
6. Dead End, no more:There has been no position that has seen more change than tight end. This is remarkable considering the team's history. The Jets didn’t care about this position for a decade. This is evident in their embarrassing production, which was a league-low 561 catch from 2011 to 2021.
They were replaced Ryan GriffinAnd Tyler KroftWith C.J. UzomahAnd Tyler ConklinThe third-round pick will be added as a sweetener to the draft. Jeremy Ruckert. They still have Trevon WescoCheck out the complete roster.
Uzomah stated, “Now, our tighten end room… frightening.”
7. Special tome:Remember Mike Westhoff? You do. He was the Jets special teams coach between 2001 and 2012. A whiz with X's-and O's, he never shied from speaking his mind. He is now retired but has not lost his candor. You can read his autobiography “Figure it Out: My Thirty Two-Year Journey While Revolutionizing Pro Football’s Special Teams” to see how. Barry Wilner, an NFL reporter from the Associated Press, helped him.
Westhoff is a cancer survivor and has a lot to share. It is especially interesting to read his chapters about his time with Jets, which included six playoff years and some embarrassing lows. He covers everything. Tim TebowMark Sanchez (not an NFL quarterback) to Mark Sanchez (only a manageable quarterback at the best”), as well as his two general managers and three coaches.
Westhoff has nice words to say about his former bosses. However, he does manage to unleash some haymakers on former coaches Eric Mangini and Herm Edwards. He spares Terry Bradway (ex-GM) his harshest words, as he “wasn’t my favourite.” In many ways, I thought he was barely average.” He criticizes Mike Tannenbaum, former GM, for not including him in the pre-draft process. “We went from a championship-level operation to a bulls— operation. And this was yet another example.”
He also discusses how his friendship and mentorship with Bill Parcells was ended when Parcells in 2008 sent a letter to the NFL office accusing Westhoff for violating league rules. Westhoff, who was “retired” from the Jets due to health reasons, visited a Miami DolphinsParcells invited Westhoff to practice in training camp. Westhoff was back with the Jets a few days later as they prepared to open against Miami. Parcells didn't like this as he believed Westhoff had illegally scouted Miami.
Westhoff wrote that he sent him a “miserable, chickens—” letter. He “ruined what I believed to be a great relationship.”
Westhoff's entertaining football story is worth a summer read.
